Pet or Pest? Public Perception on Invasive Alien Fish in Malaysia

Understanding public views on invasive ornamental fish in Malaysia will provide authorities with the tools needed to plan eradication or control protocols that account for stakeholder concerns. This study surveyed 200 respondents to investigate the perception levels of Malaysians towards invasive ornamental fish versus local fish and examine the community’s role as a vector of introducing alien species into natural ecosystems. This study comprised of four sections examining socio-demography, fish ownership habits, awareness of fish handling practises, and human wellbeing when keeping fish. Based on this survey, there was a bias exhibited by the public that treated invasive fish better than local fish in terms of pet care (changing water and feeding frequency), the type of pet chosen (invasive or local), pet perception, and attachment towards their pet (naming, way to get rid of fish). Significant relationships were observed between the type of fish and where it was obtained, between gender and type of fish obtained, gender and naming their fish, gender and fish upkeep and lastly gender and ways to rid of fish (p < 0.05). Around 46.5% of respondents opted to get rid of their fish into the nearest river or drain, showing that Malaysians are one of the vectors for the introduction of alien fish into our ecosystem. Awareness campaigns that target specific age groups and education levels must be carried out to increase understanding of invasive pets. This study can help authorities plan invasive management programs that are effective for our community.